
CHINESE IMPORTS FROM AFRICA Description |
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2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
All Commodies | 36,229 | 55,883 | 43,184 | 66,896 | 93,140 | 113,087 | 116,993 |
Mineral Fuel, Oil Etc.; | 25,997 | 39,489 | 27,828 | 41,475 | 49,073 | 56,084 | 54,013 |
Special Classification Provisions, Nesoi | 578 | 1,551 | 902 | 3,401 | 15,926 | 28,941 | 30,275 |
Ores, Slag And Ash | 3,298 | 7,254 | 6,049 | 8,864 | 12,620 | 11,320 | 13,810 |
UPDATE April 18, 2014: China's definition of HS 98 from China Customs, below (thank you Bi Hanning). Still not clear why it has grown so large, but I suspect many importers are simply classifying imports as "other unclassified commodities"...
UPDATE April 28, 2014: A paper by Africa trade expert Dr. Ron Sandrey, "Assessing South Africa's Trading Relationship with China," also raises questions about this strange gap in data for South Africa's exports to China. He wonders if perhaps it represents exports of gold (although China is itself one of the largest gold producers in the world). Chinese trade experts, do weigh in!